Barton in hot water after draw

Sunday 1 January 2006 00:10 BST

Joey Barton is facing more disciplinary trouble with Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce confirming Merseyside Police had made him aware of an incident involving the midfielder immediately after the 1-1 draw at Everton.

A former Everton schoolboy, Barton was celebrating in front of the City fans after Micah Richards' injury-time equaliser when he appeared to deliberately expose his backside to home supporters in the Park End of Goodison Park.

"The police approached me afterwards to make me aware of what had happened," said Pearce. "I did not see it. But if anything did happen, we will look at it with an open mind and deal with it."

He added: "I am sure the timing of our goal had a lot to do with any over-celebration. Maybe also there was the fact that one or two people have been saying things about our away form."

Coming so soon after the furore surrounding Ben Thatcher's disgraceful challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes has subsided, the fresh controversy is the last thing City need. Barton has previous bad experiences involving Everton, having punched a Toffees supporter in Thailand during last summer's pre-season tour which saw him sent back to England in disgrace.

The former England Under-21 international was also the subject of a club record fine when he stubbed a cigar out in the face of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during City's 2004 Christmas party.

He then went onto anger City fans by handing in transfer request on the eve of deadline day in January this year, only to subsequently sign a four-year contract during the close season.

With the police already involved, it seems only a matter of time before the Football Association launch their own inquiry, with a ban virtually certain should the case against Barton be proved.

The 23-year-old's post-match conduct certainly took the gloss of a hard-earned point for City, which halted a run of 10 defeats in their last 11 away games.